Custom positioned golf club grip



March 3, 1959 R. H. H.'HUGMAN CUSTOM POSITIONED cow CLUB GRIP Filed Dec. 29, 1955 RN Y mA m NM WW 0 NH W H s 7 M m w R m v E 5 W s w F 0 T n m D 2,876,010 CUSTOM POSITIONED GOLF CLUB jGRiP Robert 'Hf H. Hugrnan, San Antonio, Tex. Application December- 2 9,1955,:Serial:N0.'556;246 5 Claims. 01. 2734312 This invention relates to a custom positioned golf club- .grip, and has for one ofits objects-the'production of a golf club grip which is'adjustable to a selected position on the shaft of aclub and which may-then be fixed in'a desired position-and seaIed-sothatthe position -of-the grip may not be changed or tampered with after once being fixed in "position.

Another objectof this inventionis the production of -21 .golf club grip which is *specially shaped to give the lower hand'placed on the grip a'scientifichold and ahard -=or tight "grip, the grip beingoff-center in the direction of the intended golf stroke, so'thatt-he thumb and'first :finger may "be placed inadvance of the center *line 'of the shaft for maximum accuracy and control-of the de- ?'sired'shot, while the upperhand-is'on-the center line of the shaft.

1A'furth'er object of this invention'is theproduction of :aneflicient non-slip gripping surface for-allfingers of the upper or hingin'g'hand with the exceptionof the thumb "while at the same time providing a slick surface for the :power or-lower hand, to thereby facilitate an efficient z-stroke by the I golfer.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention 'will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1; is a side elevatio'nalview of the" golf clubxgrip, partly shown insection;

--Figure -2 is a' side elevational view of the golfclub :grip-looking at the opposite side'thereof from that shown in'Figure 1;

'Figure 3 is an edge elevational vle'w of the :golfolub Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line By referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that '10-designates the golf club grip, the upper portion '11 of which is substantially circular in cross section for about one-half of the length thereof. The lowerspoi'tion .ll'o'f'thegrip 10 bulges andtapers laterally off-center as indicated at 13, which is and should be in the direction of the intended golf stroke. This shape is designed to give the lower hand placed on the grip a scientific hold and a hard positive grip. The lower hand affords the power to the stroke, and it is this lower hand that betrays the golfer if the shape of the grip for the power hand, is not correct. Therefore, this grip is off-center in the direction of the intended golf stroke, and the thumb and first finger of the lower hand are placed in advance of the center line, aa, see Figure 2, for maximum United States Patent 'his conscious and unconscious strike "action.

2,876,010 :Patented Mar. 3, 1959 "ice . 2 or ;g're'at accuracy and control-of the shot; 'The'upper hand on the-shaft is the hin'gi-ng-hand, 'and-tlierefoie'it should be on the center line of the'shaftwhen gripping the'upper portion 11.

The upperportion 111s provided witha non-slip grip- .ping'surface formed of roughened leather'or other nonslip material 14. This :gripping surface 11" extends over about one-half of the circumference of the upper portion 11 and about one-half the lengthofthe' gi'ip 10. All of the fingersof the upper, hinginghand forefiicient' operation should engage the non-slip gripping surface '14with the exception of' the strong thumb which mayengagethe by the golfer, instead of being fixed to the shaftby'the producer, in otherwords, it has a custom-built character, built-in by virtue of the structureherein set forth. The grip is provided with a shaft'receivin'g-socket 15 'which is lined throughout its length with a fabric lining 1'6'to eliminate metal to metal contact'and vibration between the shaft and grip. 'A metalreinforcing bar 17 extends longitudinally along one side of the 'socket 1'5, and fits within a recess '18 formed along one sideof the socket 15, the lining 16 also being interposed betweenthe'bar 17 and the shaft S, as shown in Figure 1.

A thin spirally wound-strand of wire is wrapped around 'thelining 16 and'thebar17 to'reinforc ethe-liningand bar. Transverse set screws '18 and "19 are threaded through the bar '17 and the lower portion '12 of the'g'rip 11. The grip 10 may be formed of plastic or other similar material commonto the trade 'andthe rn etal'bar 17 which is embedded in the grip 1'0 will provide an efiicient set-screw carrying element; forthe grip. The grip 10'is provided with apertures 20 and 21 through which the respective set-screws 18- and 19' are "also fitted while passing throughthe bar 17.

The set-screws 18 and 19, when securing'the 'shaft'S in an adjusted positionin the socket 15,-are insetwithin the apertures 20-and "2-1 so 'thatthe outer "ends *of these apertures define plug-receiving -'reces'ses which may be sealed with a plastic stick and-glu'e sealing'wa'xfor any other hardening compounddefining sealing plugs 22'and 23, respectively. This sealingof the set=screw sockets will prevent free access 'to the set-screws 'and thereby prevent tampering with thescrews by 0thers,-'so'that the golfer may have no'ques'tion of the golf club having'been adjusted by others during a round of official tournament play. The apertures 29 andllconstitutedepreceptacles for receiving the sealing plugs 22 and 23, "which are formed as stated above of hardening" compound.

It should be noted that thegrip may be positioned in a selected or adjusted position 'upon the shaft S-relative to thegolf club head to suit the golfer soas to produc'e'the ball action which he intends, for without a grip 'so'exactly positioned he unconsciously gets a contrary golf ball action. This grip by being adjustable -in a rotary manner upon the shaft S enablesthe "golfertoadjust and lock the grip and sealthe'sarne in a'po'sition'whichbes't suits This is proven only by use, and is then set, locked and healed.

It should be further noted that by clamping the setscrews 18 and 19 in binding contact with the shaft S, the shaft 5 will be firmly clamped in the socket 15 against the fabric lining 16, which lining 16 in turn is clamped against the convolutions of the coiled or wrapping wire 17* defining a plurality of closely arranged gripping or binding ribs interposed between the wall of the socket l5 and .thevfabric lining 16. In this way an efficient clamping connection isprovided between the grip and the shaft S which is locked against accidental adjustment ortampering. The wrapping wire 17 also binds the reinforcing bar 17 and fabric lining 16 together.

Having described the invention, what I claim asnew is:

1. In combination with a golf club shaft, a golf club the center line of said shaft, alower portion of said grip having an off-center area extending off-center rela- Qtive to. the center line of said shaft and constituting a grip portion for the thumb and first finger of the lower power handof a golfer in advance of the center line of vthe shaft for great accuracy and. control of the shaft, the off-center area of said golf club grip being adapted to extend in the direction of the intended golf stroke, the shape of the lower portion of the grip providing a scientific hold and a hard positive grip for the lower power hand of a golfer, the upper portion of said grip being provided with a non-slip surface for a portion of its circumference for engagement by all four fingers of the upper hand of a golfer, and said grip also (being provided with a slick surface for the remaining portion or its circumference for engagement by the grip-connected to said shaft'and comprising an upperportion substantially circular in cross section in line with the center line of .said shaft and adapted to be gripped by the upperhinging hand of a golfer around by the upper hinging hand of a golfer around the center lineof said shaft, a lower portion of said grip having an off-center area extending off-center relative to the center line of said shaft and constituting a grip portion for the thumb and first finger of the lower power hand of a golfer in advance of the center line of the shaft for great accuracy and control of the shaft, the off-center area of said golf club grip being adapted to extend in the direction of the intended golf stroke, the shape of the lower portion of the grip providing a scientific hold and .hard positive grip for the lower power hand of a golfer, said gripbeing provided witha shaft receiving socket and a layer of fabric and a layer of wound thin the center line of said shaft, a lower portion of said grip having an off-center area extending off-center relative to the center line of said shaft and constituting a grip portion for the thumb and first finger of the lower power hand of a golfer in advance of the center line "of the'shaft for great accuracy and control of the shaft,

the off-center areaof said golf club grip being adapted -'to extend in the direction of the intended golf stroke,

rgrippcd by the upper hinging hand of a golfer around the shape of the lower portion of the grip providing a scientific hold and hard. positive grip for the lower power hand of a golfer, said grip being provided with a shaft receiving socket and a layer of fabric and a layer of spirally wound thin strand of wire interposed between said shaft and grip within said socket thereby defining a plurality of closely arranged gripping and binding ribs interposed between the wall of the socket and said shaft. 1

4. In combination with a golf club shaft, a golf club grip connected to said shaft and comprising an upper portion substantially circular in cross section in lirie with the center line of said shaft and adapted to be gripped by the upper hinging hand of a golfer around the center line of said shaft, a lower portion of said grip having an off-center area extending ofi-center relative to the center line of said shaft and constituting a grip portion for the thumb" and first finger of the lower power 7 hand of a golfer in advance of the center line of the shaft for great accuracy and control of the shaft, the off-center area of said golf grip being adapted to extend in the direction of the intended golf stroke, the shape of the lower portion of the grip providing a scientific hold and hard positive grip for the lower power hand of a golfer, said grip being provided with a socket to receive said shaft, locking means including a reinforcing bar fitted longitudinally in said socket and having longitudinal gripping action upon said shaft, and means operable by an individual golfer and the like engaging said bar for locking said shaft, reinforcing bar and grip together in a selected set position.

5. In combination with a golf club shaft, a golf club grip connected to said shaft and comprising an upper portion substantially circular .in cross section in line with the center line of said shaft and adapted to be gripped by the upper hinging hand of a golfer around the center line of said shaft, a lower portion of said grip having an off-center area extending off-center relative to the center line of said shaft and constituting 'a grip portion for the thumb and first finger of the lower power hand of a golfer in advance of the center line of the shaft for great accuracy and control of the shaft, the off-center area of said golf club grip being adapted to extend in the direction of the intended golf stroke, the shape of the lower portion of the grip providing a scientific hold and hard positive grip for the lower power hand of a golfer, said grip being provided with a socket to receive said shaft, a reinforcing bar fitted longitudinally in. said socket and engaging said shaft, means for-locking said shaft, reinforcing bar and grip together in a selected set position, and a spirally wound thin strand of wire encircling said shaft and reinforcing bar within said socket thereby defining a plurality of closely arranged spirally wound gripping and binding ribs interposed between said shaft and the wall of said socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

